April 8, 2005

Substance-free fun planned for Purdue's Grand Alternative

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Dozens of Purdue University campus organizations, offices, departments and student organizations are teaming up to provide substance-free activities for Purdue students during the annual Grand Prix celebration.

Grand Alternative 2005 will feature nearly 50 events, including fitness sports competitions, musical performances, dances, fitness classes, drug- and alcohol-abuse education, organized recreational sporting events, cultural events and dozens of other activities.

Events begin Saturday (April 16) and continue through April 24. The 2005 Grand Prix Kart race is scheduled for April 23.

Grand Alternative originally was conceived in 1998 when Steve Cain, campus minister at the Wesley Foundation, initiated a community-wide coalition of student groups with the goal of celebrating the Grand Prix safely and without alcohol. Grand Alternative got its official start in 1999 with a grant from the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Tippecanoe County.

"Considering that Grand Alternative began as a single event six years ago, we have really come a long way with this substance-free initiative," said Bridget Williams Golden, assistant dean of students. "It seems to get bigger and bigger each year. Students certainly will have no problem finding fun during Grand Prix week."

The Office of the Dean of Students is the sponsor of Grand Alternative 2005, with support from the Student Wellness Office, the Wesley Foundation, the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Tippecanoe County and the Division of Recreational Sports.

A complete list of Grand Alternative sponsors and events, which are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, is as follows:

• Saturday (April 16): Recreational Fishing Club, Fairfield Park Fishing Cookout, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fairfield Park; PSUB "A Call to the Arts," a collection of student art and photography, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Purdue Memorial Union lounges; varsity softball game against Michigan, noon, Varsity Softball Complex, with students with ID admitted free and a student home run derby contest following the game; La Milonguera, Argentinean Tango Club, "Shall We Dance?" 2-5 p.m., Matthews Hall, Room 304; African Student Association with support from the Black Cultural Center, African Banquet, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 102 N. Chauncey Ave., West Lafayette, admission is $10; Purdue Student Government, Grand Alternative Concert, featuring Tristan Prettyman and Howie Day, 4 p.m. doors open, 5:15 p.m. opening act, Elliott Hall of Music; PSUB feature film, "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events," 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Stewart Center's Fowler Hall, admission is $3 for students with ID and $4 for the general public.

• Sunday (April 17): varsity softball games against Northwestern, noon and 2 p.m., Varsity Softball Complex, with an autograph session following the games, admission is $2 for students with ID; PSUB feature film, "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events," 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Stewart Center's Fowler Hall, admission is $3 for students with ID and $4 for the general public. PSUB feature film, "Finding Nemo," 8 p.m., Recreational Sports Center's Aquatic Center, admission is $3 for students with ID.

• April 18-21: Cary Club, Cary Fest, noon to 7 p.m. each day, Cary Quadrangle courtyard.

• April 19: Hillel Foundation Student Board, "Murder Mystery," 7 p.m., Hillel Foundation, 912 W. State St., West Lafayette.

• April 20: Hellenic Student Association, Greek Cookout, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Memorial Mall; Catholic Student Association, Keggeroke, 8 p.m. to midnight, St. Thomas Aquinas Center, 535 W. State St., West Lafayette; Meredith Hall feature film, "Breakfast Club," 8:30 p.m., Meredith Hall lounge, with complimentary breakfast food.

• April 21: Alpha Phi Omega, Pre-Grand Prix Tricycle Race, 4-8 p.m., Memorial Mall; PSUB drive-in movie, "Coach Carter," 8 p.m., Ross-Ade Stadium North Parking Lot, admission is $3 per student with ID or $5 per student car and $5 per person or $7 per car for the general public.

• April 22: Grand Prix Foundation, Grand Prix Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Memorial Mall; Chinese Calligraphy Club, Calligraphy Appreciation Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Purdue Memorial Union Window Bay A; varsity softball game against Wisconsin, 3 p.m., Varsity Softball Complex, with "Fear Factor" competition following the game, admission is $2 for students with ID; Campus Christian Fellowship, Luau-Palooza, 3:30-10 p.m., Vawter Hall Mall; Purdue Adult Student Network, Sand, Subs and Suds, 6-10 p.m., Recreational Sports Complex sand volleyball courts, with refreshments provided; Christian Student Center, Root Beer Kegger, 8-11 p.m., Christian Student Center, 115 Waldron St., West Lafayette; Christian Student Fellowship, Starry Night Festival, 8 p.m. to midnight, corner of First and Russell streets, with refreshments provided; Salsa Dance Lessons, 8:30-10:30 p.m., Meredith Hall dining area.

• April 23: Purdue Running Club, Grand Prix 5K Run, 8 a.m., Grand Prix Track; Indiana Intercollegiate Track Meet, 9 a.m., Rankin Track and Field Complex, admission is $2 for children and students with ID and $5 for the general public; varsity softball game against Wisconsin, noon, Varsity Softball Complex, with an autograph session following the game, admission is $2 for students with ID; INFORMS and Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, INFORMS/HFES Grand Alternative BBQ, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Hollow Park, Shelter 2; Recreational Fishing Club, Hunting and Fishing Film Festival, noon to 8 p.m., Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, Room G126; Puerto Rican Student Association, volleyball tournament, 1-6 p.m., Recreational Sports Complex sand and grass volleyball courts; PSUB, Battle of the Bands, 3 p.m., Slayter Center for the Performing Arts; Students in Free Enterprise, Alternative Tournament, 3-6 p.m., Slayter Center for the Performing Arts, with refreshments and games provided; Collegians for Jesus, "Now is the Time to Worship," 7 p.m., Memorial Mall.

• April 24: Purdue Triathlon Club, Grand Prix Duathalon, 9 a.m., Vawter Field.

Writer: Aaron Martin, (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu

Source: Bridget Williams Golden, assistant dean of students, (765) 494-9028, bwgolden@purdue.edu

Erin Ansfield, graduate administrative professional in the Office of the Dean of Students, (765) 494-1231, ansfield@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at all Grand Alternative events. To make arrangements, contact Erin Ansfield of the Office of the Dean of Students at (765) 494-1231, ansfield@purdue.edu.

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